17 Other Ways to Say BAD | BAD Synonyms With Examples

Have you ever wanted to say something is bad, but don't want to repeat the word? In this article, we will show you 17 great synonyms for bad, such as awful, terrible, poor, and more. You will learn their meanings and how to use them in sentences. Let's explore these words together and make your speaking and writing more interesting.

Awful

Awful means something is very bad or not good at all. It is often used when you feel strong dislike or disappointment. You can use awful to describe things, events, or experiences that are unpleasant or shocking. For example, if the food tastes bad or the weather is terrible, you can say it is awful. This word is very common in daily conversation and easy to remember. Awful can also express emotions when something surprises you in a bad way. Using awful in a sentence shows that you do not like something a lot.

• The party was awful, and nobody had fun.
• His handwriting is awful and hard to read.
• I felt awful after hearing the bad news.

Terrible

Terrible is used when something is extremely bad or serious. You can describe a situation, event, or condition that makes you worried, upset, or unhappy. Terrible can also mean very poor in quality. People use it to show strong negative feelings about something. For example, terrible weather can ruin your plans. Terrible food can make you sick. Using terrible adds more strength to the idea of bad. This word helps you sound more expressive when talking about problems or difficulties.

• The traffic today was terrible, and I was late.
• She had a terrible headache all day.
• The movie had a terrible ending that upset everyone.

Poor

Poor means not good in quality, performance, or condition. It is often used to describe work, effort, or things that do not meet the required standard. Poor can also describe health or feelings when someone is not well. This word is useful in school, work, and daily life to show that something needs improvement. When you use poor, it is like giving a soft warning that something is not good enough. You can use poor for many situations from grades to services or even physical condition.

• His presentation was poor and confusing.
• The poor road made driving difficult.
• She has poor eyesight and needs glasses.

Dreadful

Dreadful means very bad or causing fear. It is used when something makes you feel worried, scared, or unhappy. You can use dreadful for events, experiences, or objects that are extremely unpleasant. Dreadful is stronger than just saying bad because it shows strong dislike or worry. People use dreadful when they want to describe something that really affects them negatively. Using dreadful makes your sentence more emotional and shows how serious the bad situation is.

• The weather was dreadful, and we stayed inside.
• He made a dreadful mistake at work.
• The sound from the storm was dreadful and scary.

Horrible

Horrible means very bad and shocking. It is often used to describe accidents, mistakes, or events that are upsetting. Horrible can also describe feelings when you experience something unpleasant. Using horrible makes your sentence more emotional and expressive. It shows strong dislike or fear. People often use horrible in daily conversation to talk about dangerous or frightening things. This word is helpful when you want to make others understand how bad something really is.

• The car crash was horrible to see.
• She had a horrible day at school.
• The smell in the room was horrible.

Lousy

Lousy means very bad or low quality. It can describe work, products, or experiences that disappoint you. Lousy is also used when you feel unhappy or unwell. This word is casual and often used in spoken English. Using lousy gives a sense that something is not only bad but also unpleasant or disappointing. Lousy can be used for many situations like work, food, or even weather. This makes it a flexible word for everyday use.

• I had a lousy meal at the restaurant.
• The movie was lousy and boring.
• He felt lousy after the long trip.

Atrocious

Atrocious means extremely bad and unacceptable. It is used for situations, work, or behavior that are shocking and far from good. Atrocious is stronger than bad and often shows strong criticism. People use it when they want to make others notice a serious problem. Using atrocious shows that something is not just bad but really terrible. It is a powerful word to describe actions, events, or things that need attention.

• The hotel service was atrocious.
• His behavior at the meeting was atrocious.
• The conditions in the building were atrocious.

Abysmal

Abysmal means extremely bad or very low in quality. It is used for performance, work, or conditions that are far from acceptable. Abysmal shows a strong level of disappointment or failure. People use it to highlight serious problems. Using abysmal helps describe situations that are worse than just bad. It can be used for grades, work results, or personal efforts. This word gives a strong impression that something is extremely unsatisfactory.

• Her performance in the exam was abysmal.
• The restaurant's cleanliness was abysmal.
• He gave an abysmal speech that nobody liked.

Rotten

Rotten means bad and not usable or good. It is often used for food that is old or decayed. Rotten can also describe situations, feelings, or objects that are very unpleasant. This word can show both physical decay and poor quality. Using rotten helps explain why something cannot be used or why it is unpleasant. Rotten can also describe moral or personal actions that are very bad.

• The apples in the basket were rotten.
• He had a rotten mood all day.
• The deal turned out to be rotten and unfair.

Shoddy

Shoddy means poor quality or badly made. It is used for work, products, or objects that do not meet standards. Shoddy can also describe behavior that is careless or weak. Using shoddy shows that something is not only bad but done without care. People use shoddy to explain mistakes, low-quality items, or weak efforts. It is helpful for pointing out faults clearly.

• She bought a shoddy jacket that ripped easily.
• The company produced shoddy furniture.
• His shoddy work caused problems later.

Inferior

Inferior means not as good as others. It is used for objects, work, or people that are lower in quality or value. Inferior can show comparison with something better. Using inferior helps explain weakness or poor quality. This word is useful in work, school, and shopping to show differences in quality. It makes your opinion about things clear without being too harsh.

• This phone is inferior to the latest model.
• The student's work seemed inferior compared to others.
• The fabric of this shirt feels inferior.

Appalling

Appalling means very bad and shocking. It is used to describe events, work, or conditions that make you feel surprised and unhappy. Appalling is strong and shows that the situation is extreme. Using appalling makes your feelings obvious and shows how serious something is. People often use it for accidents, mistakes, or unacceptable actions. This word helps make your sentences more powerful.

• The living conditions were appalling.
• The mistake in the report was appalling.
• The way he treated his friend was appalling.

Mediocre

Mediocre means not very good, just average. It is used to describe work, performance, or quality that is acceptable but not impressive. Mediocre shows that something does not stand out. Using mediocre helps express disappointment without being too harsh. People use it for school, work, or entertainment to show that the result is normal but not great.

• The movie was mediocre and not exciting.
• Her performance in the game was mediocre.
• The food at the cafe was mediocre.

Defective

Defective means not working correctly. It is used for products, machines, or tools that have a problem. Defective shows that something cannot be used properly or has faults. Using defective helps explain why something is bad or unusable. People use it for shopping, technology, and work items to warn others about problems.

• The phone was defective and would not charge.
• The toy was defective and broke easily.
• The defective machine caused delays in work.

Unpleasant

Unpleasant means not nice or enjoyable. It is used for experiences, feelings, or situations that make you unhappy. Unpleasant can describe anything from a smell to a person's behavior. Using unpleasant helps explain discomfort without being too strong. People use it to talk about things that are not dangerous but make life harder.

• He had an unpleasant meeting at work.
• The room had an unpleasant smell.
• She received unpleasant news about her test.

Awkward

Awkward means difficult, uncomfortable, or embarrassing. It is used for situations, actions, or feelings that are not smooth or natural. Awkward can describe people or moments that make you feel uneasy. Using awkward helps explain social or physical discomfort. People often use it for conversations, movements, or behavior that do not feel right.

• The conversation was awkward and silent.
• He felt awkward meeting new people.
• The chair was awkward to sit on.

Harmful

Harmful means causing harm or damage. It is used for actions, substances, or situations that hurt people, animals, or the environment. Harmful can describe physical, emotional, or moral damage. Using harmful helps warn others about danger or bad effects. People use it for health, safety, and everyday life to describe negative impact clearly.

• Smoking is harmful to health.
• Pollution is harmful to the environment.
• Eating too much sugar can be harmful.

Final Thoughts

There are many ways to say bad. Words like awful, terrible, poor, and harmful help express feelings stronger than just bad. Using these synonyms makes speaking and writing more interesting and fun. Practice these words to improve your vocabulary every day.